PREGAME: After a lackluster effort the Tigers can hopefully muster some offense against Matt Ginter. You may remember Ginter as a former Tigers pitcher and an accomplished banjo player
Armando Galarraga takes the ball for Detroit. He had that whole perfect game thing going on in his last start against the Royals. I was hoping he’d get it just so I could see if he was capable of smiling. He’s faced Cleveland twice and has 10 K’s against 2 walks in 12.1 innings.
DET @ CLE, Tuesday, July 29, 2008 Game Preview – Baseball-Reference.com
Armando Galarraga fared okay, but wasn’t quite as sharp as his past outing – which would be quite tough to do in all fairness. The bullpen kind of got the job done, but man – those freakin walks.
banjo playing pitcher takes on banjo hitters.
It’s just like the irresistable force meeting the immovable object.
Come on, Armando, do it for the fantasy team!
“banjo playing pitcher takes on banjo hitters”
Oh yeah? Wait’ll they see our new closer, Steve Martin
Let’s do it today fellas. One series at a time.
Peralta is the slowest SS alive
I’m glad that the break leyland gave the team is making all the infield line drives be not directly at fielders today.
Bad bad dp. It is getting painful.
Spoke too soon, dp
Texeira to Angels. They are a lock for WS. Crap. Great guy – went to HS with him in Baltimore. Too bad we could not land him. Move Cabrera to dh, ditch Gary.
Yeah tex is good
Nice shot for Miggy
that was a missile from Miggy.
That’s really sad, hafner’s dad just died
Yeah, this can’t be the greatest year of his life
Little reversal of yesterday’s luck – broken bat blooper, couple grounders where they aint in the first…
At least we’ve put up a run against deliverance dude.
Renteria doing us good.
Good for Renteria; besides, the Ham Sandwich is no longer available.
This guy was doing OK against us until he ran into the Renteria/Inge buzzsaw
It’s now official: Renteria > Sheffield.
Maybe if everyone on the team got together, they could manually pull Sheff’s oblique. PleasePleasePlease let this be the last series of him as DH.
Renteria’s the man, he’s a shortstop jerking doubles every which way. VORP that.
“Maybe if everyone on the team got together, they could manually pull Sheff’s oblique”
I think offer him a pillow to sit on, that seems to work…
Over the last week or so, Renteria is really looking like the guy I thought he was at the beginning of the season.
Shapiro was in the booth for the last inning on STO. He’s a really impressive guy.
Remember when we thought our lineup would be like this every day, with no breaks even at the bottom of the order. All the “OMG they have Hall of Famer Pudge Rodriguez and he might bat 8th or 9th!” talk. It’s definitely more fun!
Sheff needs to go the way of Todd Jones…
Did Edgar read the blog? Did he take offense to possibly being traded for a ham sandwich? Is this some sort of clue to give him a nick with some sort of variation of ham?
ooh maggs missed a hanger there
Yeah he did
Bad call on that Strike out. Hope it does not cost him the batting title
ump rung up sheff with no appeal earlier as well…don’t know why you wouldn’t just always let first base make that call.
all right matty, nail this 3-1
man, rincon just drilled the black there twice in a row
Joyce has to swing. Can’t leave the bat on your shoulder
Both of those pitches to joyce were slightly off the plate.
When Sheff puts a good swing on it – not much lately – the ball goes. How does he pull that? Down and away.
And now Rincon’s exactly where he didn’t want to be: pitching to Edgar Renteria with RISP.
That ball Sheff hit might’ve been the hardest hit ball all night — quite the feat with the Renteria double and that laser Miggy hit earlier to make it 1-0.
Billfer might have to bring back the “Whipping Boys Powers – ACTIVATE!” graphic. RBI doubles for Renteria, Inge and Sheff!
Sheff’s ball got to the wall faster than Miggy’s
perhaps a bit premature, but with the angels no hitting the sox and the tigers up 5, looks like by the end of the day we’ll be only 5 losses back of the WC.
Ryan in B-town: “Billfer might have to bring back the “Whipping Boys Powers – ACTIVATE!” graphic. RBI doubles for Renteria, Inge and Sheff!”
Just wait till the appearance of the new set-up guy, Todd Jones…
Chris Guccione is absolutely BRUTAL behind the plate tonight.
Hey! The batters have shown up all day!. Nice to see Shef put one on the wall and make up for that first at bat where he looked so weak.
Coleman: I predict Jonesy strikes out the side in the 8th on 9 pitches.
Surprised Grandy didn’t get rung up with no appeal there
And in hindsight it would have been preferable
Cleveland announcers have mentioned that Guccione is a rookie ump…….he sure looks it too! Some of his calls have been erratic as can get.
no hitter through 8 for lackey!
They’ll probably have to pull Galarraga once he plunks one of their sluggers as payback for Inge…
I don’t really think Galarraga has looked that good today…lots of hard hit balls, few hung breaking balls that guys just missed…
Anyone else starting to feel very nervous?
Nervous? Why, just cause baseballs are flying around like popcorn in a Jiffy Pop bag?
Stranding inherited runners is both solid and sexy
God I hope Ellsbury bunts to break up the no no
Luckily we countered with the potent Dolsi-Inge battery (season ERA 0.00).
We have to be leading the universe in dp’s. Would be nice if the pen gets 9 up, 9 down.
Pedroia singled to break up the No-no. ESPN then quit showing it and seconds later Youkilis hit a 2-run bomb to make it 6-2 LAA.
So far this year, this is where the trouble comes. I have a Lorazepam that I might take. My doctor ordered it to reduce anxiety for an MRI. But now would be a better time.
You would think that a team with very little speed that plays station to station baseball and has lots of right handed power bats would hit into lots of dps…
Well, there you have it. Sexy Freddy is coming apart.
Nah, Freddy’s just getting a little retribution for his buddy Inge.
More amazingly predictable incompetence from the Tiger pen!
Forty: “lots of right handed power bats.” But you may not predict Renteria to lead the pack…
And Mediocrity Bordering On Downright Bad strikes again.
Dolsi has not looked good recently.
Clearly they are setting up Cleveland for the triple play…
Billfer, you know a lot more about this team than I do. Why don’t they get some other pitchers that can throw strikes? I mean, even if the hitters can hit it, at least you have a chance to play it. Do these guys eve practice throwing the ball in the strike zone?
Forty:
And you would be correct. That is 95 GDPs now.
I am trying not to get angry, or be cynical, but I really feel strongly this game is already lost.
Time to play possum…
this bullpen has been giving games away…. Quite a disappointment
Dolsi has not looked good recently.
His peripherals were always pretty questionable. The sample size has grown.
Zoom warming up, so who’s the closer tonight?
They say that hitting a round ball with a round bat is one of the most difficult things to do in sports. Apparently just throwing the damn thing is more difficult for some.
Freddy Dolsi has thrown exactly 10 innings coming into tonight without a walk or a hit allowed. Out of 31.2 IP.
Edit: Sky, how is that not cynical?
Questionable Peripherals: not sexy.
Nice to see stranded runners
Zu-Zu is the new sexy.
Nice job.
Pen has not allowed any runs, inherited or otherwise, to score tonight.
Twins are coming back………..putting the Chisox on their heels.
So, now that Jones isn’t the closer anymore, is he the new setup guy?
“Questionable Peripherals” is too long for a nickname, let’s just call Dolsi “Gil”.
So still, thanks to Zumaya:
Dolsi-Inge battery, season ERA 0.00.
Oh, also: Zumaya-Inge season ERA: 0.00
So Coleman, are you saying Inge is the pair of lingerie to Dolsi’s sexiness?
All I saw, Mike, was Dolsi started off the inning with a walk and hit batter. That’s not very good relief work even if no one ends up scoring. And by the way, he was pulled for Fossum who did the job.
Sky, it’s ok to be cynical and angry. That lorazepam is good stuff. Take it now and you’ll be sleeping by the ninth inning.
Joyce you’re not going to steal second and you’re scaring me. Get your butt back to the bag.
Inge comes through again!
Dave Dombrowski and his staff have a preference for high velocity/stuff guys who they hope that can be harnessed to throw strikes. It’s a philosophy thing.
I’m sure they work on a variety of things between games and during spring training. One thing I’m sure isn’t a point of emphasis is throwing balls out of the strike zone.
As a side note, the Tigers reliever who most frequently throws strikes (though less frequently this year) is Todd Jones so take that for what it’s worth.
Ingy!
Still, sky. You can’t preface something as “not being cynical” and then follow it up with a cynical statement like that, haha.
Wonderful to see a guy they do not expect pull that off on them!
Restores optimism………
Sorry, Mike, ….you’re right about Zumaya, and he looked very good.
I guess Inge didn’t like getting hit with that pitch?
He actually was pulled for Fossum who got Grady on a ground ball.
yeah, I edited my post immediately as I forgot that he did bring in fossum to face Sizemore, it was my mistake. Sky, you were right.
I’m saying Inge brings along a Peripheral or two himself sometimes…
The best part about checking out stats on the Baseball Reference page is things like this… included on the list of “most similar” pitchers to Joel Zumaya:
Aubrey Gatewood, Ron Klimkowski, Ed Hanyzewski, Manuel Corpas, John Urrea, and Dave DeBusschere. Dave DeBusschere??
Jones in the ninth I’m guessing…
Forty: “Joyce you’re not going to steal second and you’re scaring me. Get your butt back to the bag.”
And a good thing his butt was back on the bag when Inge went long….
how many of john urrea’s friends know his name means pee? most guys with ridiculous names know it early on. you know boof bonser and jimmy gobble had it rough in third grade. but i can just imagine john having that “noooooooooooooo!” moment in 9th grade bio when he realized what his name meant (minus an r).
I would be disappointed if Manuel Corpas wasn’t built Fernando Valenzuela-like…
If they think Zumaya’s breaking ball is what is hurting his arm, then why don’t they eliminate it from his repertoire and go with the change-up?
Directly from his bio on MLB.com:
THROW THE CHANGE-UP FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. Pisses me off.
Mike R – I’ve been annoyed by that for a long while. If his change was ever that good, to go with his plus plus fastball (frequently hear his fastball and santana’s change as the definition of 80 on the 80-20 scale), how is he not one of the best relievers in the game?
Rough night for Maggs. He gets screwed on the strike out call, and then hits a screamer right at the 2nd baseman missing out on a rbi
That change up they are talking about is partly a product of that fastball though; take some of the steam out of the fastball and the change is not so unhittable. So I think before his velocity was back (is it yet?) the change isn’t the pitch it was before…
Coleman, there’s not much more velocity to add when he’s hitting 97 at the bottom of his fastball velocity.
Also, there was an article on the hardball times that suggested that a change up in the middle 80’s that was 6-ish MPH slower than the heater is actually the most effective.
Edit: here’s the article.
Questionable use of your tired closer with a 4-run lead. Then again, I recall a certain game last year when our other closer came in the 9th with a 4-run lead.
Zumaya’s change-up in ’06 was hitting 90-92.
I see ol’ Cap Askew is gonna give it a go in the 9th…
Rodney getting squeezed
It’s the new Rodney with the straight hat and a handsome dude he is. Now if Magglio would cut that damn ugly hair and we’ll look like a real baseball team.
My comment was something of a question though. Is Zumaya’s fastball back to where it’s consistently 97+ ?
Oh, sorry Coleman, I guess I didn’t read that as a question. Zumaya’s velocity is not the problem at all, he’s in the upper 90’s. Control is a different animal, though. It’s upper 90’s with no idea where it’s going.
Also, where’d you see that his change up in 06 was 90-92?
Magglio’s hair? Dude…
(the Inge weird-beard however seems expendable…)
I just wish I had thought of the name Cap Askew earlier in the season…
Oh man , he crooked it between the second and third batter.
That was fugly, but much needed. Two more must wins ahead!
Nah, Ron, I think we just need some bleached goatees…
Mike R: it was in one of the pre-World Series pieces, maybe one of the rain-delay fillers. And to go with it they had a clip of Tigers watching him pitch and someone (I forget who) elbows Kenny Rogers and says look at that, 92! His change-up! and Kenny shrugs and says, “whatever” which cracked me up at the time…
It was very ambitious yet unfortunate that in the WS Zumaya decided to work on his knuckleball while fielding bunts…
Mark Teixeira traded to the Angels instead of the D-backs…. Oh well. The Tigers will have to face him in the ALCS instead of the World Series…:)
One thing you are certainly right about, Billfer, is that Jones can throw strikes. We always knew he would do that at least. Somehow he lost his deceptiveness, or whatever he was doing to get his pop-ups and ground -outs.
My beef with our relievers is too many walks and pitches no where near the zone. I understand emphasizing velocity, but look at Gallaraga. He overpowers no one, but he keeps hitters from putting anything on the ball. Elroy Face used to do that many years ago with nothing but junk and went 18-1 in one season. What command he had, though. And that is the name of the game: control and command.
“Mark Teixeira traded to the Angels instead of the D-backs”
I think it’s one of those deals where they’re gonna “flip” him to another team, I’m guessing something like Teixeira for Renteria/Larish/Jones.
(That’s my penance for any earlier pessimism).
that’s the optimism i like to hear lol
“It was very ambitious yet unfortunate that in the WS Zumaya decided to work on his knuckleball while fielding bunts…”
Ooooh. Burn. Joel sees that, you’re toast, dude.
twins win 5.5 back
Whipping Boy Powers Activate again! Uncanny.
Tigers have won 6 of their last 9. Why don’t I feel giddy? White Sox series hangover, that’s why.
My impression of tonight’s game:
INDIANS (in Towely voice): Wanna score some runs?
TIGERS: Oh no, we really shouldn’t.
INDIANS: Come on.
TIGERS: Are you sure? OK, 1 or 2 can’t hurt.
INDIANS: Tell you what – for every run you score, you can leave another 2 on base.
TIGERS: Really? Wow… well, if that’s how you’re gonna be…
INDIANS: Knock yourselves out.
TIGERS: Say, you wanna score some, too?
INDIANS: Oh no, we really shouldn’t.
TIGERS: Come on.
INDIANS: Well… is it OK if we cash in on every opportunity, then, as long as we fall a bit short?
TIGERS: Knock yourselves out.
INDIANS: Cool. But you know, you’re making it kind of hard for us to fall short.
TIGERS: Say. how would you like a come from behind win instead? Normally, we prefer to lose the heartbreakers at home, but we’re still kind of tired, and –
INDIANS: Yeah, well, we’re kind of tired too.
TIGERS: But wait – we’ll give you Rodney in the 9th, even Jones if you want him! Walk-offs are fun… or so we’ve heard.
INDIANS: We were thinking more like Cliff Lee domination tomorrow and the walk-off on Thursday, if you don’t mind. More soul-destroying that way, if you know what we mean.
TIGERS: Sounds like a plan. See you tomorrow.
INDIANS: See ya. Wouldn’t wanna be ya. Well, actually we would.
Dave BW
“I’ve discovered a new family of chemicals!” came from misspelling basically as basicalyl. Which resembles chemical names like isopropyl, et al. Also has the base thing (acid/base) going for it.
Hope that doesn’t tarnish its glory. If nothing else, it was spontaneous and uncontrived.
Sean, the Tigers did a sufficient job with scoring opportunities tonight.
But I did like your little dialog thingy… funny.
Chris
You’re right. But my reaction comes from a combination of being a glass half empty kind of guy and the desire to see the Tigers put the serious hurt on when the scoring opportunities were being served up on a platter. I wanted a stomping of the Indians to wipe the shutout from memory.
I can’t complain about a win, but sometimes I still do.
I’m more apt to complain about our new closers inability to consitently find the strike zone. Not so good.
That’s one thing that’s hard to like about these Tigers, how they sometimes get into an almost sleepwalking mode, and all go cold together (which I guess is how they can score so many runs and still be shut out more than anyone). Fair or not I think Edgar represents this malaise to a lot of fans (a spot he took over from Cabrera)…for all his many faults, I have to admit appreciating that Sheffield at least gives the impression he is pissed off and frustrated at his performance. And I do think that’s one plus also to having Inge in the line-up. And mostly Pudge also. They don’t have that sleepwalking vibe.
(also, while I’m mostly teasing with the pitcher-catcher stats, I do really think there may be something in the higher HPB ratio when Inge is catching)
i am going to just express my gratitude that the tigers won and leave it at that.
It’s nice to read of the gratitude of the grateful;
one grows weary of the hatitude of the hateful.
Stephen, I’m not satisfied with your gratitude of them winning. I need some dooms-day scenario from you, pleassseee!
Tomorrow, we have to win. Just somehow, someway, find a way to beat Cliff Lee. Nate Robertson will have to not be a bum for one day. Tough, especially against the Indians.
Regardless, if we win, it’ll be because of our offense. We need to be high energy tomorrow. Send runners going. Hit and run. Draw walks. Step in to the strike zone and get hit if you have to! If we don’t get Lee out of there by the 6th inning, we’re probably going to lose.
And with Carmona pitching on Thursday, we might be f’ed then too.
Coleman: “also, while I’m mostly teasing with the pitcher-catcher stats, I do really think there may be something in the higher HPB ratio when Inge is catching”
OK, here’s why, at least against Cleveland.
# games Inge has caught against Cleveland: 4.
# HBP in games Inge has caught vs Cleveland: 7 (yes, 7).
# times CLE HBP has followed DET HBP: 3.
# times HBP has followed CLE HR: 1 (Garko, 6/9).
# times I think CLE suspects Inge has been calling for HPB and nails him: 1.
# times CLE batter that CLE thinks Inge called hit on (see June 9) gets HBP to lead off inning by a Tiger pitcher that previously had career 0 HBP: 1
well, you get my point…
We need Chief Monday to counter-balance Stephan
I don’t know what game everyone else was watching here.
Galarraga had a perfect game going for the 1st 3 innings. Then when Galarraga was losing it, Dolsi came in and slammed the door shut. The rest of the pen wasn’t nearly as perfect, but they got the job done.
The Tigers hitting was excellent in the clutch. We scored 8 runs on 14 hits and 2 walks. 50% of our baserunners scored in this game. MLB average is about 37%.
Anyways, Galarraga cements his 9th win. ROY honors would be his if the season ended Today.
The White Sox pitching has crapped the bed once again. Their pitching has been terrible in 15 out the last 17 games. In that span, they’ve surrendered 111 runs. That’s the sound of the toilet flushing on their season.
That sound should be familiar to all of us here, that’s what the Tigers did last season. Last year, from July 20th to Aug 5th we gave up 118 runs in 17 games. We didn’t know it at the time, but that was where the 2007 season ended for the Tigers.
It occurs to me that the most consistent aspect of the Tigers game through 106 games has been – believe it or not – the starting pitching.
The most improved aspect as compared to April-May has been the hitting, especially in its consistency. There has also been improvement in the defense.
There have been times when the bullpen seemed like it was going to be OK, but overall, the pen is the most worrisome component heading into the part of the season where it’s harder to make up losing games they should have won.
Pardon me, but 2 months of mostly good news has whetted my appetite for a better record than 2 games over .500. That’s not pessimism, exactly. Restless discontent, maybe. As sson as .500 seems like a done deal, you want more.
This outcome of this game was fairly perdictable from the outset and a very good bet for a Tigers victory. Tigers generally mash against pitchers like Ginter and Galarraga came thru, more or less on par. The real test is how the team will fare tonight against Cliff Lee. If they really are contenders, they are going to have to defeat the good pitchers — the Cliff Lees, the Lackeys, the Lincecums of the world. Cuz no matter how you slice it, those are the kind of pitchers we’ll be facing in the playoffs — if we are fortunate enough to get there in the first place. If they can win tonight, we’ll talk some more.
Had the Tigers lost this game, I’m sure more attention would have been drawn to the fact that Chris Guccione was absolutely horrible. Horrible. The third strike call on Maggs (without the benefit of an appeal) wasn’t even close to a swing — wasn’t even close to a quarter of a swing, ditto on Sheff’s checked-swing-called third strike — and on the other side, a couple guys virtually swung through the ball yet won the appeal. I’m also beginning to think some of these umpires are collaberating on an early retirement for Gary Sheffield. I can’t believe some of the strikes they ring up on him.
Kudos to Renteria — a rare two out RBI double. More of the same from Sheff.
F-Rod is still a mess. I may be too harsh a critic, but as far as I’m concerned, you can’t have erratic command and hope to save tight games on a consitent basis.
I’ve now given up hope on the Tigers. Even if they make the postseason, nobody is stopping that Angels juggernaut. Unless they make the decision to start Jeff, er, Jered Weaver every game.
Chief: Go back through the archives on this site. I’m pretty sure about a month ago I posted that the White Sox pitching was due for a correction. I might have even used the phrase ‘crap the bed’. I like being right sometimes. Although to be fair they’re still in 1st place. Albeit tenuosly.
Cliff Lee will be tough to beat. He hasn’t given up a HR in his last 7 starts.
He’s 14-2, with a 2.29 ERA, with a 6 to 1 K to Walk Ratio. Statistically, he’s probably the best pitcher in baseball this season.
More 2008 pitching stats:
FULL COUNTS % BF
Verlander 13.7% (14 K, 22 BB, 2 of 10 hits for XB, .590 OPS)
Rogers 12.8% (9 K, 27 BB, 5 of 14 hits for XB, 1.100 OPS)
Galarraga 12.5% (16 K, 14 BB, 3 of 8 hits for XB, .662 OPS)
Robertson 10.6% (12 K, 11 BB, 4 of 11 hits for XB, .826 OPS)
Chris (in Dallas), there was really more to be found in the stats I posted yesterday in the Todd Jones thread than your brief comment indicated. Not that I expect you or anyone to pore over them or anything, just that there’s some stuff of interest I’ll get to if I can today.
It appears to me that AG isn’t the lucky one. Kenny Rogers is. How is he not getting hammered? I’ll have to check into his 2006 stats to see if he was living this dangerously back then.
Yeah, you could make the case that Lee has been the best pitcher in the AL this year, if not all of baseball. On the other hand, you can also make the case that Robertson has been the worst pitcher in the AL (if not for the existence of Livan Hernandez – why the Twins don’t replace him with Liriano is unfathomable at this point. Or Carlos Silva – don’t worry Seattle fans, only 3 years and $36 million left).
Sean: Rogers pretty much always lives dangerously. He’s the very definition of a “crafty” lefty. Or as he’s described himself, a “chuck and duck” guy. Fortunately for us, he seems to be able to induce pop ups and double plays when he needs them. Most of the time you might call this luck, but he’s been doing it for such a long time I’d say it’s a skill on his part.
The reason you can’t feel giddy over a win or even winning baseball for seven weeks is because this 140 million dollar ballclub is still 2 games over .500 with two thirds of the season gone. They have played horrible the first two months and really good the last two months. Will they cycle backwards ala last August, will they continue their good play thru Sept. or will they spin their wheels and hope the two teams in front of them falter or they slip in as the WC against the likes of Boston and NY. and others as of this date. When you play .500 ball for two straight years, why would you think they’re capable of anything else?
Good point about Rogers, Chris.
Sorry, I have pitching on the brain (hey, it beats pitching in the toilet):
2008 LEFTY/RIGHTY SPLITS (OPS)
TEAM RHP v RHB .654
TEAM RHP v LHB .788
TEAM LHP v RHB .826
TEAM LHP v LHB .794
Robertson .839 righty, .836 lefty
Rogers .848 righty, .799 lefty
Galarraga .470 righty, .825 lefty
Verlander .656 righty, .681 lefty
The phrase righty tighty, lefty loosey occurs to me. Verlander and at least some of the bullpen must account for any effectiveness against LHB. Sure isn’t the southpaws in the rotation.
Chris, a casual persusal of Rogers’s 2006 and 2007 splits reveals that he simply pitched much better then, a good deal less dangerously (at least as statistically indicated). Not surprising. But he was almost as bad at yielding walks rather than strikeouts on a full count (2:1), something he’s always been lousy at according to his career splits. He’s up to 3:1 now. Yikes.
Cliff Lee’s middle name is Phifer.
I always like our chances against tough-ish lefties like Cliff Lee. It’s the journeyman righties that keep me awake at night.
With a guy like Rogers you have to kind of take that into context. Earlier in his career he actually had, you know, stuff to work with so he was less inclined to give in on a full count than he is nowadays. We’ll call this the Frank Tanana Principle.
When you play .500 ball for two straight years, why would you think they’re capable of anything else?
Little known fact: The Tigers are 237-193 in the Jim Leyland Era. This equates to a .551 winning percentage.
Sean: What you also may not have known is that Cliff Lee posted a .322/.378/.491 batting line for the 1925 Tribe, back when he in the outfield. It’s true – you can even look it up.
Ron: What is Chicago’s winning pct over the last 2 years? It’s 160 – 166. Enough said.
In 1984, I still remember all the pessimistic fans saying that the Tigers 35-5 start and 104 wins for the season were all for nothing if they don’t win the world series.
So many fans didn’t warm up to the Tigers until after they won the World Series.
In 2006, those same fans never warmed up to the team and were saying that we couldn’t beat the Yankees in the playoffs. Well we did.
This year, same story.
This year they have not only not done anything remarkable, but they’ve been underachieving and remarkably average.
Ryan: I think being shut out 11 times and still managing to be 3rd in the league in runs scored while sporting a +31 run differential is pretty remarkable. I can’t remember any team of recent vintage pulling that off.
Honestly there’s room for optimism going forward. Maybe not Chief-level optimism, but optimism nonetheless. First of all, they’re only 5.5 games out of 1st, which is hardly insurmountable. Also, since the start of June this is a team with a 31-20 record and a +49 run differential which is encouraging. During that span, the pitching has improved (3.90 June ERA, 4.16 in July) and the offense has been more consistent, scoring 4 or more runs in 38 of 51 games during that stretch. As is always the case in baseball, you can’t expect instant results – you can see that this team is slowly but surely moving in the right direction. We’ll have to wait and see if it’s enough.
A sketch of Cliff Lee, turning to the splits I’ve been looking at recently for Tigers starters:
FIRST PITCH: STRIKE 55.3%, BALL 34.7%, IN PLAY 10.0%=.919 OPS with 6 of 21 hits for XB
AFTER 2 STRIKES: .444 OPS, 13 of 54 hits for XB
FULL COUNT % BF: 9.6%, 14 K, 9 BB, .896 OPS with 4 of 12 hits for XB
Lee gets hammered on 2-0 counts. Too bad this situation is so rare for him – 2.0% of BF. As for Tigers hitters, they see 2-0 counts only 2.2% of the time themselves. Don’t know whether 2-0 is a rare count overall or just a rare one for a team with a hitting approach like Detroit.
It’s been a while since Lee gave up a HR. He wasn’t especially sharp against Detroit on June 9, though. The infamous Dontrelle Willis start. The Tigers could have gotten to him more and didn’t. Maybe they were disheartened by the disastrous start to that game – quite a hill to climb. Polly was all over him, but Marcus looked foolish and Miggy didn’t seem to have a clue, either, that time. Inge was 0 for 2 but took him to the outfield both times, good 5 and 6 pitch AB. Don’t know why Lee left after 5, exactly. 8 baserunners but only 2 runs. It would be nice if he left after 5 this time, as well.
The Tigers were 26-37 after that. They’re 28-15 since. Lee may, no, WILL be in for a different team this time (Sheff, Rodriguez, a hot Renteria – and maybe Inge could start in LF? OK, not really). Marcus will catch up to him and add some correction to that absurd HR/IP ratio. Renteria will presumably lead off again.
I have no doubt that this team is improving and has improved, but they are quickly running out of time to catch up from their early suckage.
“This year, same story.”
What?? The Tigers have beaten the Yankees in the ALDS again? That’s fantastic news. Where have I been? Man, it sure is hot for October, though.
“I think being shut out 11 times and still managing to be 3rd in the league in runs scored while sporting a +31 run differential is pretty remarkable.”
I’ll try not to beat this dead horse any more, but the above is remarkable in ways both good and bad. As we all know.
The Tigers have evolved very much during the season. The team was still raw in April/May. Guys like Cabrera, Guillen, and Inge were learning new positions. Granderson was hurt. Galarraga was vouching for a rotation spot. Willis was DOA. Right Field was unclaimed. The guys in bullpen were waiting for Zumaya and Rodney to reclaim their spots. So much was unsettled earlier in the season. Now things have settled down. That is the difference.
Chris: Same story in that many people are prepared to give up and lose. People here just don’t seem to believe that Detroit can win anything, not now, not in 2006, and not in ’84.
Chis: A little known fact about the current Cleveland ace, back in his early days as a crappy-fielding outfielder: In 1924, Lee played for the now-defunct TOT team in the National League and put up numbers ABSOLUTELY IDENTICAL to those who he put up later in the year dividing time between the Philles and Reds. What are the odds?
At the tender age of 116, Cliff Lee is finallly living up to his potential, throwing harder than ever (age builds strength sometimes – just ask Roger), and is on a course to become the 4th oldest Cy Young Award winner ever, after Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson, and Clemens.
“Same story in that many people are prepared to give up and lose.”
Well, I don’t see so much of that here. Mostly it’s people looking at the Tigers with a critical and justifiably skeptical eye. You don’t have to be a Pollyanna to care or have hope.
Sean: Inge is starting at 3B tonight – I read that in the notes section of the AP article about last night’s game. Apparently Guillen was messing with Porno Gil’s Tabasco remedy and will need the night off. OK I made that last part up. I can’t remember why Lee got lifted after 5 last time around, either. He was only at 88 pitches by that point…
“Galarraga was vouching for a rotation spot”
I am pretty sure you mean “Vying”.
Please. The griping and second guessing starts as soon as the starting lineup is posted. To me that’s equivalent to giving up.
Good news about Inge starting against Lee, I think. It would be nice to have Gorilla’s Uncle in the lineup, too, but you can’t have everything.
Don’t get me started on Porno Gil’s Tabasco, Chris. I’d get the hook from Billfer in 5 seconds flat.
On a more serious, totally-baseball note: I used to like Tabasco till I realized it was so vinegary. Practically nothing but vinegar. Nothing against vinegar, but it’s shown me nothing to warrant a starting condiment job. I think it’s more of a role player, good as a late-inning replacement on fries or for the occasional start against salads. Despite putting up really good numbers in the Cooked Spinach With Butter League.
Griping and second guessing are the same as giving up? That can’t be who I think it is.
Yeah Tabasco is low on the hot sauce depth chart. Though his cousin Green Tabasco is a starter, hitting cleanup.
Chris in Dallas: ” Rogers pretty much always lives dangerously. He’s the very definition of a “crafty” lefty. Or as he’s described himself, a “chuck and duck” guy. Fortunately for us, he seems to be able to induce pop ups and double plays when he needs them.”
It’s worth pointing out that he is helped by having an extra infielder when he pitches–himself; 7 of the double plays he has induced have been turned by himself. (I’m not sure what the record is, but it would be worth looking up…7 ties the most Kenny has ever had). So in a sense when Kenny pitches he is covering a bit for whatever infield deficiencies we may have…
Chris in Dallas: “Sean: Inge is starting at 3B tonight”
Well that guarantees us at least one baserunner, when Inge gets the Rib Ball….
Hopefully Joyce will take up Tabasco as a favorite condiment; I think Tabasco Matt (with the implied cat reference) would be a killer nickname…
‘Tabasco Matt’
As always, I’ve got an anagram for that. ‘Bat Coma Stat’. This is something that the SABR folks need to invent for when the Tigers offense does that thing it does where it forgets that you’re allowed to cross home plate.
Then there’s Renteria’s Orange Bat Coma Stat, otherwise known as Bat Coma Stat–O, Anger!
Chief Monday, you have moved into rubber room territory. People didn’t think the Tigers could win in 1984? Who are these people? Team started 35-5. Pretty sure 99.6% of the world thought Tigers could win in 1984. Seriously, you could be an economist for the Bush White House.
Coleman: I’ve done some research. Renteria uses Louisville Slugger’s GIDP model bat. It’s made of maple, with a grains of despair.
stephen- Most who followed Joe Falls or Mitch Album. They’d be telling us fans not to get too excited because we didn’t win anything yet. To me that’s rubbish. I believe you have to enjoy the moment as it happens.
Anyways, here’s a thought- why not try Eddie Bonine as a closer? He wasn’t a good starter, but maybe as closer he’d work out better.
I’ve been comment dormant for a couple weeks. I’ve been listening to the Ticket here at work, and they’re announcing Pudge has been traded to the Yankees.
Hmm.
Pudge to the Yankees. Geez.
PUDGE TO YANKEES, BREAKING NEWS…
Hmm, Kathy was calling that one here 2 days ago…
If that’s true I think it means 1) we’ve waved the white flag, and if
Farnsworth is part of the deal 2) we’re pissed off and are going to start beating teams. Literally. Bloodthirsty Chris will be happy…
Hopefully they gave us Joba Chamberlain for him. In my dreams.
Thanks for the heads-up on Pudge, Brian P. I’m kind of shocked. Yankees? Can we make them take Sheffield back, too?
Maybe it’s not too late…hey! Dave! it’s SHEFF! Sheff to the Yankees! S-H-E-F-F-I-E-L-D…Dave?
Sweet trade. Farnsworth is just what the doctor ordered. Now we got are closer back.
Now is the point where I officially have to get banned from the site for the day. What the f*$&?
/kicks lifeless bullpen in the crotch
So I take it that Sardini is are back-up catcher now, with Inge being full-time behind the plate.
Anyhoo, now that I got that out of my system. Geez. Just when I was warming up to Pudge….
You’re right, Coleman. I’m sure it’s all just a big misunderstanding.
Or maybe Pudge was traded to the Yankees FOR the REAL Sheffield, held incommunicado for almost 20 months now. It was a funny practical joke, but the Yankees just couldn’t suppress the laughter any more.
We’ll have the last laugh when they discover they didn’t get the real Pudge, either.
Farnsworth? Uh…..
Farnsworth is going to wear a mask and tights and when he pitches it will be pay-per-view reality show called Chin Music, that’s how Illitch is going to recoup some of the money he squandered this year…
Yeah, Chris. I was back in Pudge’s corner, too, fair weather friend that I am.
I cannot find any way to defend this deal.
The Yankees are a team against whom the Tigers might be competing for a wild card. THey have a huge hole at catcher, so the Tigers just filled it for them. And in exchange the Tigers get a guy who combined Rodney and Zumaya’s worst traits.
Maybe Inge was part of the trade, too? Tigers pulling the goalie, going for broke.
I’m worried about Inge, he could really get burnt out tonight sprinting from behind the plate to field grounders at third, especially with all that gear on…
I was thinking, why did they trade Farnsworth to the Pirates for nothing just to get him back from the Yankees for something? Then I remembered – that was Bautista.
Breaking News: the Yankees actually traded Farnsworth for Fudge: 6 different flavors, delivered directly from Mackinac Island; originally the Yankees were demanding the Tigers’ Ham Sandwich for Farnsworth, but when it became clear the Ham Sandwich was no longer on the table they relented and agreed upon the Fudge.
The Yankees have been trying to give away Farnsworth for a year-and-a-half with no takers…does DD get a luxury box in the New Yankee Stadium or something?
Maybe this is Leyland yelling “I sweat bullets every time F-Rod throws 100 pitches in an inning.” If it’s not Leyland’s anxiety, how does this deal make any flippin’ sense??
They’re planning on going deep into the playoffs with Verlander/Galarraga/Minor?? They must think so, otherwise you go for the draft-choices by letting Pudge sign elsewhere.
“but when it became clear the Ham Sandwich was no longer on the table”
Yeah, and whose fault was that? I’m looking right at you, big daddy.
I’m sure people will dog on Pudge…but he’s still better than 90% of the catchers in the league. I know he certainly has his issues, but we are going to be regretting this one for a while I fear.
I think it’s a good trade. It helps us more, more than hurts us. We get the bullpen help that we needed and Farnsworth will probably be our closer.
Farnsworth is a Free Agent after the season just like how Pudge is.
On some level, it makes sense, I… guess: trade a 30 something reliever with no upside for a 30 something catcher with no upside. But really, how could this be the best deal the Tigers could have achieved?
isn’t it a little early for April Fools?
Don’t WE now have a hole at catcher? And at leadership, and face of the organization?
Kyle FARNSWORTH???
just because there’s a trade deadline doesn’t mean you NEED to make a trade, DD.
Great move.
Palmcroft- We’ll still get draft choices if Farnsworth signs elsewhere after the season, won’t we?
The Tigers tradit for The Pr0f3ss0r?
At the very least, it will be great to read the dugout on this trade…
This is nuts. We’re COMPETING with the Yankees. I don’t understand why we would do this.
If Farnsworth shows up in uniform tonight, I take back my prediction that Inge is gonna get one in the ribs…
The implications of acquiring Farnsworth? Guesses:
1) Dolsi to Toledo.
2) Zumaya’s gonna be a starter, beginning… now? Stretching out… in Toledo? Or Detroit in long relief, and Fossum DFA?
3) Jones is gonna be dealt.
4) Maybe RODNEY is on the block.
“This is nuts. We’re COMPETING with the Yankees. I don’t understand why we would do this.”
Unless…oh man, this could be brilliant…what if Pudge is a double-agent? And suppose this is followed by trades to Boston, Minnesota, etc…one of our double-agents on each wild card competitor…this could work
Although more probable would be: nuts
YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!
Please tell me the reports of “straight up” aren’t accurate.
Atleast this is a great sign that the Tigers aren’t quitting or having a fire sale. They are playing for the stretch run this season. If they got prospects in return for Pudge I’d be pissed.
“Please tell me the reports of “straight up” aren’t accurate”
I believe they are, DD was seen ordering several “straight up” before he made the deal…
Oh now I get it. The trade was actually for Professor Farnsworth. The Futurama guy. In that case, good deal. His smelloscope should come in handy. I only hope there is a PTBNL, which will undoubtedly be Bender.
News just in, the Detroit also received a ham sandwich in the deal.
The implications of deaing Pudge? Guesses:
1) Carlos Guillen will be asked to move to catcher, and he’ll agree to it, of course. Marcus Thames, “a natural third baseman” (JL), takes over at the hot corner.
2) A deal for another catcher in the works? How? Who?
3) Inge at C for the remainder of his contract (“his bat looks pretty good for a catcher, eh?”)?
4) Sardinha – still with the organization, I presume – called up?
Chief – that’s a good point. I don’t know that Farney will be considered a class A FA.
I kinda’ like Farnsworth, and I can find no fathomable defense for this trade. Pudge had to bring future value, because this lineup (which hasn’t exactly been consistent in lighting up the scoreboard) is worse with him out of it.
Do the Tigers bring up another catcher who has some offensive upside (like Ryan or even Skelton) to try him out?
The true rationale for this deal is that now thousands of fans will have to buy new t-shirts to replace their obsolete Pudge ones.
Ham sandwich? We already got a ham……..Chef!
Could we have gotten Edwar Ramirez? Seems like given Pudge’s pretty solid offensive year at CATCHER that he’d be worth more to a team that’s definitely in the playoff hunt and has no catcher. Farnsworth at 6MM per year seems like a pretty low valuation for Pudge…even if it does address a need on our end.
You know… the more I think about this silly season, the more I like this trade. The insanity of the situation is just perfect.
btw I gather that NY will be covering some or most of the Professor’s salary. But who knows???
“News just in, the Detroit also received a ham sandwich in the deal.”
This makes sense, since Detroit has been a sandwich short since yesterday
Robertson goes to Texas for Laird. DD has been working those phones….
“I believe they are, DD was seen ordering several “straight up” before he made the deal…”
AFTER the deal. He was shaken by the experience of blacking out for several hours, then coming to and finding out about the trade in the Free Press just like everyone else.
For real, Chris? Do you have a link?
There could be a lot we don’t know. Maybe Pudge swiped Skipper’s last carton of smokes and wouldn’t give them back…
I think DD is just trying to amass as many ham sandwiches as possible because Ilitch is out of money and needs to feed Miggy.
Joel: That was idle speculation on my part.
Well, that’s one down. Now if DD could just get rid of Rogers, Sheffield, Renteria, Jones, and Leyland before the trading deadline, we would stand a good chance of looking good for next year already (addition by subtaction). But my guess is that they are still suffering under the delusion that there is a chance to make the playoffs this year, so none of those deals will get done.
The immediate repercussions are that Dolsi probably goes down (unless they DFA Jones) and Sardhina comes back up to be the backup to our new No. 1 catcher, Brandon Inge.
“Robertson goes to Texas for Laird. DD has been working those phones….”
Whoa, he sure has. And he’s gotten HOSED in both deals.
Thames and Galarraga back to Texas for Saltamacchia?
“Robertson goes to Texas for Laird. DD has been working those phones….”
Man, you had me going there, Chris. I like that trade better.
Girardi said of Pudge, “he’s hitting over .290, and I think he’s hot.” See what I mean, there’s stuff we don’t know…
I think Ilitch just went crazy and told DD to do a firesale even though its only the middle of the season. The only weird thing is Ilitch demanded that DD get nothing of value in return.
Maybe DD is remembering how Farns pitched in Detroit a few years ago, and discounting everything since…
I didn’t realize Girardi and Pudge had a groovy thing going…
Hmmm Coleman I wonder what Leyland thinks of Farnsworth?
“Hmmm Coleman I wonder what Leyland thinks of Farnsworth?”
I think unknowingly Farnsworth will represent his anger; I think Leyland secretly wants to see some body-slamming to express his frustration with this season…think Leyland=Bruce Banner, Farnsworth=Hulk.
Actually, Farnsworth has been lights out since Joba Chamberlain moved out of the pen.
Hmm, actually that thought even fits with the idea that Inge has been calling for knockdown pitches this season, and Pudge not. Leyland is now free to let his bloodthirsty demons run amok.
(The preceeding does not represent my true opinions; it is merely meant to entertain and hopefully calm Bloodthirsty Chris)
I’m pretty sure the Tigers are planning a brawl very shortly. That is the only reason this deal might make sense.
Coleman, thanks for the shout out. Yea, I did kinda call it. With Jorge gone, you know they’d want someone like Pudge and he’d love being there. I’ll miss him, though.
This trade is inexplicable.
1) you are helping your competitor fill a hole, while subsequently creating one of your own. Inge is not an upgrade over pudge.
2) If the Robertson-Laird deal is legit (Chris? Anything?), you fill the catching hole but then plan to run ….??? out there to pitch in his spot? D-Train? Yikes.
3) If you knew you could get Laird and were comfortable having Willis (or some other) in your rotation, is Farnsworth the best reliever you could have gotten for pudge? Especially when the entire planet knows Florida is interested in pudge? No chance for a 3-team deal here?
If the plan is to run Inge and Sardinha out there, then, I dunno, we’re just…. ugh.
Chris in Dallas: they are already flirting with one tonight…I think Cleveland intentionally hit Inge last night; I think Cleveland thinks Detroit intentionally hit Garko June 9 the AB after his HR, and I’m sure they think Inge called for Dolsi to nail Garko in the 8th inning last night. If the umpires are smart they warn everybody the first time anything happens tonight…
I don’t think the Tigers will start anything though, but I do think they would retaliate…
If it does mean Zumaya as starter, well then HALLELUJAH!! He would give us a great one-two punch to take into the playoffs for years and years to come with Verlander. Throw in Porcello, this team could do great things.
The problem is that Farnsworth is a rental, so Zumaya needs to be ready to start soon or this trade is all about 2009.
And yes, Chief, I dunno is Farnsworth is valuable enough to bring quality draft picks if he signs elsewhere.